Social

Profile

My Background

My Background

My Background

I’ve worked in the field of Social Media, Marketing, Media Relations, Website Design & Video Production for 15 years, helping brand and grow businesses. Prior to that I was an Emmy Award Winning News Reporter specializing in medical and health reporting & a News Anchor in major TV markets. I graduated college having majored in Mass Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism and Video Production.

My Skillset

My Background

My Background

My experience is broad and covers all the daily challenges you would expect in the field of Social Media, Marketing, Media Relations, Website Design and Video Production.

My Goals

My Background

My Goals

My passion is helping people and companies reach their business goals. Especially in the field of medicine.

I have helped build businesses, including the medical practices of doctors, medical centers and helped boost the credibility and reputations of physicians, hospitals and companies, increasing their business and got them the recognition they deserve.

Making a Difference

Making A Difference is What Marilyn Does Best

From her groundbreaking investigative series "Cancer At The Pumps" which changed Florida laws requiring vapor recovery systems on gas pumps, to "Dangerous Diets" which triggered a congressional investigation into the diet industry, to the "Ryan White Story", about a young man whose courage helped educate the world about AIDS and contributed to Congress passing the "Ryan White Act."

What matters most to Marilyn is making a difference in people's lives.

Former News Anchor, Medical and Investigative Reporter for WSVN Miami, she began her broadcasting career in Bismarck, North Dakota at KFYR-TV AM/FM as the first female general assignment reporter and news anchor.

After nearly three years in North Dakota she jumped to WRTV in Indianapolis.

Medical reporting became her special calling even from her career beginnings and winning awards for her stories including: receiving the United Press International first-place award for her special report on kidney transplants; and a first-place award from the Associated Press for a news series examining the plight of the facially disfigured. This series of reports also earned her the prestigious CASPER Award from the Indiana State Medical Association.

After breaking the Ryan White story, Marilyn moved to WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C. where several of her medical stories are archived at the National Library of Congress.

She then took a break from the broadcast industry and entered the world of politics at its highest level, serving with the White House Press Advance Corps under the first Bush Administration.

Miss Mitzel declined an opportunity to join the White House Staff to rejoin the private sector.

During her career she has interviewed five U.S. Presidents.

Leaving the White House, she re-entered the world of broadcasting joining WSVN in Miami as a health reporter and news anchor.

She received an Emmy Award for her half-hour special, "A Matter of Life and Death," and an Emmy nomination for her series, "Hope Never Dies."

The Dade County Trial Lawyers Association presented Mitzel with the Consumer Awareness Media Award for her insightful reporting of topical health and safety information.

She was named one of South Florida's "UP AND COMERS" by Price Waterhouse and Medical Communicator of the Year by the Dade County Medical Association.

She also received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Associated Press, and Special Recognition Awards from the American Heart Association, Florida and Broward Dietetic Associations, and the South Florida Diabetes Foundation.

Marilyn continues to make a difference as a spokesperson for the healthcare industry.

She produces and distributes medical and health segments to the national media.

She was also an Adjunct Professor at Florida International University.

A native of North Dakota, Marilyn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications. She attended Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. She continued her education working on her Masters in Journalism at Butler University in Indianapolis.

Marilyn currently resides in Miami, Florida

She is the Marketing Director for The CyberKnife Center of Miami and Horizon Medical Services. Plus she volunteers her time doing the social media posts for Pilots N Paws.

Greatest Accomplishments

Emmy Award

Emmy/half-hour special "A Matter of Life and Death"

Medical series helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to build the Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center by selling Bricks for Trauma

Congressional Investigation

Medical series, "Dangerous Diets" triggered a congressional investigation into diet industry and the danger is fast weight loss requiring all weight loss companies to change their diet plans to a safer, slower method greatly reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke

Changed Florida Law

Medical series, "Cancer at the Pumps" changed Florida law, requiring vapor recovery systems on all gas pumps to help prevent cancer while filling vehicles with fuel. Worked in conjunction with state representative Elaine Bloom to make that happen

Broke Ryan White Story

Broke the Ryan White story about a young Indiana man whose courage helped educate the world about AIDS, calming the fear and hysteria that came with it and contributed to Congress passing the "Ryan White Act" which is the largest funded bill for research and treatment of AIDS patients

National Library of Congress

Medical story is archived in the National Library of Congress about a three year old musical prodigy who was born blind yet began playing by ear as a toddler. His favorite is classical music and Bach

Paying It Forward

Established the internship program at KFYR TV in Bismarck, ND

Biggest promoter of WSVN TV's internship program helping launch the careers of hundreds of young broadcast journalists over a 17-year period

Site Content

Real Testimonials

Real Testimonials

Real Testimonials

A brief list of comments from Marilyn's colleagues

regarding her work and her person

"In my 30-plus years in local and network news, I have had many opportunities to work with excellent, very talented people.... I put Marilyn solidly in this category...Marilyn's verbal skills rival her visual skills."

JOEL CHEATWOOD - FORMER NEWS DIRECTOR WSVN - CNN - CBS & NBC NEWS

"She is the master of multi-tasking. A problem solver who sees obstacles as opportunities to learn rather than interruptions, even on deadline. She has real grace and respect for the ideas of others. She encourages, rather than lectures. Marilyn has the eye to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in any given body of work and her critiques are right-on."

KARIN MATZ - CNN PRODUCER

"Marilyn knows journalism. She knows pictures. She knows production. I can't say enough about Marilyn's talent. For all of her great skills and there are many, I can't think of anyone, anywhere, who's better. No one can get to the heart of a story or layout it out faster and more efficiently than Marilyn."

DICK HEIDT - GENERAL MANAGER - NBC NORTH DAKOTA NEWS

"Marilyn's work at WJLA is cited as some of the best ever produced. She is a pro and understands every part of the journalistic process. She understands the way creative minds work and has the knowledge and people skills to manage creative people effectively."

TOM DOERR - FORMER NEWS DIRECTOR - WJLA TV

"Marilyn is the ultimate professional, and I am just one of hundreds of photographers, producers, editors and students who have benefited enormously from her guidance, advice and judgement."

BUDDY MacATEE - THREE TIME PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

"Marilyn showed me what it was like to work with and become a first-class reporter. I have held her standards and creative eye as a measure of my work and other journalists with whom I've worked. She is the best."

SHEPARD SMITH - FOX NEWS ANCHOR

"The 1988 Bush presidential campaign was a monumental task. Marilyn helped our team forge ahead and achieve victory. Her people skills, punctuated by a refreshing sense of humor, allow her to draw the most out of people. Her nurturing manner belies the high standards she sets for those who work with her, a delicate balance found by few."

KEVIN MOLEY - UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR & FORMER HEAD OF ADVANCE FOR THE 1988 GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

"The one-hour phone conversation we had about a story she was assigning me as an intern literally transformed me from student to pro. Given her extensive experience in every level of the process, Marilyn is uniquely qualified to help young journalists take the next step into the real world of presenting news."

SAMANTHA FIELDS - FORMER INTERN - NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

Awards

Real Testimonials

Real Testimonials

EMMY AWARD - "A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH"

EMMY AWARD NOMINATION - "HOPE NEVER DIES"

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL - AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL REPORTING AND OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL AWARD - "DEATH WITH DIGNITY" - FOUR PART SERIES FOLLOWED FOUR CANCER PATIENTS FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE TIME THEY ENTERED HOSPICE UNTIL THEY DIED

ASSOCIATED PRESS - FIRST PLACE AWARD FOR - "DEATH WITH DIGNITY"

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL - FIRST PLACE AWARD - FOR BEST NEWS SERIES - "PLIGHT OF THE FACIALLY DISFIGURED" - FOLLOWED FOUR SEVERELY FACIALLY DISFIGURED PEOPLE FOR A YEAR - DOCUMENTING WHAT THEIR LIVES ARE LIKE - BEING PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN HOME - THE SERIES GAVE THEM THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE PUBLIC HOW THEY FEEL WHEN PEOPLE STARE - HOW THEY WANT TO BE TREATED - MITZEL WENT OUT INTO THE PUBLIC WITH HIDDEN CAMERAS WEARING A BURN MASK TO GET A FEEL FOR WHAT THEIR LIVES ARE LIKE AND CAPTURE THE GLARING LOOKS AND HORRIFYING MISTREATMENT FROM THE PUBLIC

ASSOCIATED PRESS - FIRST PLACE AWARD FOR BEST SERIES FOR "PLIGHT OF THE FACIALLY DISFIGURED"

THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS - SIGMA DELTA PHI - RECOGNIZES MITZEL FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN REPORTING AND EVENTS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

PRICE WATERHOUSE AWARD - SOUTH FLORIDA "UP AND COMER"

THE INTERNATIONAL FITNESS INSTITUTE AWARD FOR EFFORTS IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT FITNESS AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES THROUGH OBJECTIVE REPORTING

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR SUPPORT IN HELPING ACHIEVE THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CARDIOVASCULAR COMMUNICATION

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AND STROKE

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING ON CHILDREN'S HEART HEALTH FOR HER STORY "THE TINIEST TECHNOLOGY"

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CARDIOVASCULAR COMMUNICATION FOR HER STORY "SURVIVING A HEART ATTACK- THE BEST WAY TO DO IT"

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HEART DISEASE AND STROKE WITH HER STORY "HEART HELPERS."

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - MEDIAL SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD OF APPRECIATION FOR DEMONSTRATING A HIGH MEASURE OF MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY AND OUTSTANDING ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR CONSISTENT USE OF THE AHA'S LIFE SAVING EDUCATIONAL MESSAGES

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S AWARD OF APPRECIATION FROM THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CLUB FOR OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS, TREATMENTS, RESEARCH AND PREVENTION

THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE - SPECIAL AWARD OF APPRECIATION FOR "WOMEN OF VISION"

PACE - SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD - FOR HELPING YOUNG GIRLS MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES

THE MARYLAND OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION - REPORTER OF THE YEAR FOR OUTSTANDING MEDIA COVERAGE AND COMMUNICATIONS - IN RECOGNITION OF UNIQUE AND CREATIVE REPORTING TO THE PUBLIC TO FURTHER AND PROMOTE THE VISUAL WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON D.C. AREA

THE MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL FACULTY OF MARYLAND - MEDIA AWARD - FOR CONTRIBUTING TO A BETTER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON D.C. AREA

OPTOMETRIC COUNSEL OF THE NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION - WASHINGTON D.C. - THE PUBLIC NEWS AND MEDIA AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF SERVICES MADE TO THE VISUAL WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC BY HAVING DEVOTED EFFORTS AND UNDERSTANDING AND DISSEMINATING INFORMATION THROUGH THE NEWS MEDIA FACTS OF VISUAL INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD - WOMEN'S EXECUTIVE CLUB OF FORT LAUDERDALE FOR OUTSTANDING REPORTING

MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT SALUTES MARILYN MITZEL AS A FLORIDA HERO FOR ALL HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THROUGH HER OUTSTANDING REPORTING

BROWARD COUNTY DIETETIC MEDIA AWARD FOR BEST REPORTING

BROWARD COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION SALUTES MITZEL FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARD IN APPRECIATION FOR TIME AND COMMITMENT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AWARD FOR - "A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH" - IT HELPED EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DESPERATE NEED TO BUILD A NEW TRAUMA CENTER - FROM IT CAME THE NEW RYDER TRAUMA CENTER - MITZEL HELPED RAISE NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS - ENOUGH MONEY TO BREAK NEW GROUND - SHE ENCOURAGED CITIZENS TO BUY A BRICK FOR TRAUMA WITH THEIR NAME ON IT OR THE NAME OF A LOVED ONE TO HELP RAISE THE FUNDS - AS A RESULT THE UNIVERSITY PLACED TWO SEPARATE BRICKS WITH MITZEL'S NAME ON IT IN FRONT OF THE TRAUMA CENTER AND ANOTHER ON UM MEDICAL CAMPUS TO SAY "THANK YOU"

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE -"HELPING HANDS AWARD" - IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH REPORTING

SPECIAL RECOGNITION FROM THE WOMEN'S EXECUTIVE CLUB OF FORT LAUDERDALE FOR OUTSTANDING REPORTING

INDIANA STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION - AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH AND MEDICAL REPORTING

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL - SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE STORY "THE HILLY 100" - DOCUMENTS A TWO DAY BIKE RACE TRAVELING UP AND DOWN THE STEEP HILLS OF BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - MITZEL SHOT, WROTE AND EDITED THE STORY

INDIANA NEWS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION - HONORABLE MENTION FOR "THE HILLY 100" - QUITE A COMPLIMENT FOR MITZEL, AN ACCOMPLISHED STILL PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAD HER OWN DARKROOM IN COLLEGE

THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS PLACES A PERSONALIZED BRICK WITH MARILYN MITZEL'S NAME ON IT IN THE SIDEWALKS OF DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS - IN TO THANK HER FOR REPORTS ON THE CITY'S NEEDS - IT HELPED TREMENDOUSLY TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE REVITALIZATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS

THE JEWISH NATIONAL FOUNDATION PLANTED A TREE IN ISRAEL IN HONOR OF MITZEL FOR HER OUTSTANDING BODY OF WORK

HADASSAH - THE WOMEN'S JEWISH ORGANIZATION AWARDS MITZEL FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO HEALTH AND WELLBEING

SURGEONS OF TOTAL ORTHOPEDIC CARE/FLORIDA MEDICAL CENTER - AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY

SOUTH FLORIDA FIREFIGHTERS AWARD FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HEALTH MATTERS

INDIANA FIREFIGHTERS - SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR HER STORY ON TAKING THE FIREFIGHTERS TEST - MITZEL TOOK IT AND HELPED THE PUBLIC APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTY OF THAT JOB AND WHAT IT TAKES TO DO IT

INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT - SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR HER STORY ON TAKING THE POLICE OFFICERS TEST - MITZEL TOOK IT PORTRAYING THE DIFFICULTY OF PUTTING YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE EVERYDAY AND THE HEROIC COMMITMENT

DANGEROUS DIETS CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION LED TO STORIES ON EVERY NEWS NETWORK AND FRONT PAGE STORIES IN EVERY MAJOR MAGAZINE AND NEWSPAPER ACROSS THE COUNTRY - FROM NEWSWEEK TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - TO COSMO AND GLAMOUR

LETTERS OF RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING REPORTING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE